by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association held its monthly meeting Thursday at the River City Brewing Company to hear Gail Stauffer Sasnett speak on the history and pro-female activities of the National Association of Women Lawyers since its inception in 1899.
Sasnett, associate dean of the college of law at the University of Florida, is the immediate past president of NAWL and serves on the board of Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc., Regional Transit System Advisory Board and The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism.
For over a century, NAWL has fought for causes such as suffrage, equal pay, child labor laws, minimum wage, limitation of teaching positions to women above a certain household income, prohibition of employment of married women in public office and the right to sit on a jury. Sasnett touched on how the group continues its efforts today.
“One can have a large impact on the world if we join together in our goal,” said Sasnett.
According to Sasnett, NAWL conducted a survey in 1996 regarding clients’ demonstration of gender bias against female attorneys. Seventy three percent of the respondents observed this behavior, while 61 percent experienced it.
“Twenty-five percent observed sexual harassment by clients,” she said. “Nineteen percent actually experienced it.”
Despite great strides for women’s rights in society, the members of the JWLA still believe there are disparities to be addressed. Linda Calvert-Hanson, a professor at Florida Coastal School of Law, noticed a trend of young women lawyers going into governmental law because of more flexible working environments. Others feared the advent of a pink collar ghetto because more women in the legal field will devalue the profession in terms of earning power.
Attorney Patricia Dodson from Brown, Terrell & Hogan urged her colleagues to join committees and become more involved in legal organizations.
“Unless you’re in leadership positions, you won’t be heard,” she said.
JWLA meets again May 15 at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s office to elect next year’s officers.